inclusionNL for everyoneThrough our work with service providers, as well as their customers, we continue to improve the accessibility and quality of the services and products available to all within the province.

What is a Champion?

Celebrating leaders of change

A business champion is a business leader. One with inclusive hiring and support practices specifically when considering people with disabilities. A business champion would display a desire to establish an atmosphere of diversity and inclusion among their staff, and the willingness to provide the support, tools, and flexibility that an employee needs to perform their job to the best of their ability.

Business champions understand that accommodation requests are the tools an employee needs to get their job done to benefit their business and provide necessary supports. They work with the employee to fulfil these requests to meet everyone’s needs. Business champions understand the value of adding diversity to the workplace, and embrace it whenever possible. Their workplace accommodations ensure the job gets done with staff confidence to complete their work assignments with independence and efficiency. They understand that doing so improves the work ethic of their employees, improves the quality of the work they receive, and guarantees a happier workplace for everyone.

As the benefits of inclusive workplaces are becoming more widely known, examples of these kinds of practices are becoming more and more common. General Motors of Canada Limited, which has been declared one of the best places to work in Canada, has dedicated company resources to employee diversity and developing employee resources groups.1Telus , one of Canada’s top diversity employers, is incredibly open with its equity policy, and regularly offers reports on its diversity program.2 Companies like Google and Facebook are rapidly growing in terms of diversity and inclusion. Both have Employee Resource Groups established for employees of different minority groups, including persons with disabilities, and are putting significant resources into making themselves visible champions of diversity and inclusion.